Finally tried it out today. Not much luck at first. Kept clogging. Adjusted the mix and the needle often. The paint would not suck up. Fixed that by taking the needle out and wiping it off and then giving it a bit of a poke into the end inside, gently. That opened things up. It seems to take quite a while to paint a case. The spray is darkest when the tip is closest and to go back and forth in small areas takes quite a bit of time. Any suggestions? I went to the library and read two books on how to. No help really. I am using the HF deluxe model, $14.99. I am using a broken brown bakelite for tests. Thanks.

Hi,
You'll have to get used to the adjustments. ALways keep the spray tip at the same distance through your pass.

If it doesn't cover enough, you can add a little more material. (The needle adjustment) as it will pull the needle back more, allowing more material to get sucked up.



Question: What type of gun do you have,it is one with the cup (container) on the bottom of the gun, or the side upper?

Is it is like this, this is a $14.99 one:
Is this your gun? The HVLP?


I think basically your paint is not getting in the mixing chamber. Did you mix the paint too thick? It will clog the mixing chamber. Don't ever use the needle to clear anything. It is made to have a precise point on it to fit into the fluid cap.The thing you see when you take off the Air Cap. A little nick on the needle point will give an uneven soray pattern. Te paint is supposed to flow evenly around the needle, as it is pulled back.


If not sometimes the little vent hole in the cup can become clogged. There needs to be the vent or paint will not flow in any type of gun. If you have no flow, check that vent. I mean the paint should be able to be sprayed really heavy if the needle is opened up.

That is also a fuller sized gun compared to a touch up gun. I am not familiar with the HVLP equipment, let us know what your pressure is, and how you are mixing up your paint.


Specs:
Required air supply: 1-3 HP compressor; Required air pressure: 50-70 PSI; Air consumption: 6 CFM
It may take more practicing as all elements need to be balanced to get a good job. Air pressure, the dilution of the paint, needle setting, fan width adjustment.

Can your compressor supply 6 cubic ft/ min of air?

=====================================
Here is another $14.99 gun which I am familiar with:

I have used this one for at least 20 years, until it finally broke at the trigger. I repaired it and use as a backup.

This is the type that will easily clog up the little vent hole. I would check the opening, it may have a factory (China) defect where it's blocked. I'd even slightly enlarge the hole just a hair.

Never use the needle to unplug a hole, make a wire tool to clean the vent.

Now, if there is not flow, it can be the vent as mentioned, and it could be the pick up tube. Mine had a split after a few years and was sucking air and paint.

These work by the air flowing out of the Air Valve, creating a suction on the paint cup. That forces the paint up the tube to the spray head. Mixes with air and out the center nozzle.

Try unscrewing the needle a little more and see if it's possible to get any flow.
(You can use water for tests, but make sure it is dried before using paint.)

The air fan adjustment blows air out the two holes, against the center stream which make a fan spray.

So, play with it a little more and let us know which gun you have, what kind of paint and thinner you're using.

Gary.

I don't think an airbrush is a good choice to paint a whole cabinet with. Seems like the spray pattern would be way too small. There are (or were) some good airbrush sites I remember reading on-line about a year ago. You also might not be thinning your paint enough. This site is a little strange but they have a lot of airbrush how-to's you might find interesting:

http://www.howtoairbrush.com/

I have a Harbor Freight HVLP paint gun that I just about threw out because it gave me fits. Finally a buddy with a lot more experience spraying cars came over and there was a knob to adjust the spray pattern I wasn't using. I wasn't using it because the instruction manual called it an on/off knob! Once I got that figured out I love the gun. So don't rely on those translated manuals or instruction sheets to be 100% accurate.

If you determine that an airbrush won't suit your needs you might consider a trim gun that might have a pattern suitable for a small radio:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mnumber=86

These are used to paint door jambs and other tight areas. But then you need to consider if the compressor you have is large enough to run it. I think I'd stick with a gravity fed HVLP like Gary has pictured. The only problem with that is making sure your compressor is large enough.

I am using the pencil type with a small jar under the front of the unit. When I pull the needle back there was no increased paint flow. I use a small air brush compressor $79.95. I tried Krylon in a small can, latex enamel thinned with water, 50-50 or so. I might try another style of airbrush like the photos. They are only $15 now at HF. It seems that the larger container will require more paint and that will have to be put someplace until the second or third coats (?). Our weather in ND is getting near 60 degrees and that might be to cold to do much more out in the barn (26' X 36'). But I do have a good propane heater and can enclose a 6' X 6' space with a blue tarp. Thanks for suggestions. More are welcome.

Those photos are not "airbrushes".
This is a typical airbrush:


Your airbrush compressor will not power a touch up gun, so you'll probably have to get something larger. The little compressors can't handle the air requirements of the larger guns. For the mid size gun it takes around 4.9 CFM (volume) and they run about 25 to 30 psi. for normal spraying.


You are using an Airbrush?? Those are too small. They are great for very small detailing like an escutcheon or if you want to paint a thin pencil line of paint. Hang onto it, you will need it one day.

For spraying cabinets, keep it simple. I'd suggest either the silver color one shown in the previous post.(THe 86-OVGA at Harbor Freight) . They are simple, easy to operate and clean.

If you want the top cup style, I'd get the detail gun for $9.95 ITEM 92126-2VGA
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=92126



Heck, I should have bought one of those, the price is right. That one uses 3.0CFM and mine uses 4.9CFM.

I have sprayed large items with this size of gun like a large cedar chest with good coverage. For a small radio cabinet they are perfect.

Yes, airbrushes are perfect for spraying things like a model car, hand drawing lines or designs where a very small miniature spray is needed.

So, the next step up is the Touch Up gun. I really like the way the top trigger is set up on the one gun. You use your middle fingers to turn on the spray, instead of a trigger finger on a regular gun.

The new touch up gun I bought from Lowes works perfect. It is NOT an HVLP. But it has the container on the side/top.
http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/kobalt- ... -spray-gun


This is a size between the full size gun, and the airbrush. Perfect for cabinets. The silver one shown at HF for $14 is in that size class.
EDIT>> I think I'd go for the $9.99 one with the top side cup.

Hope this new info helps you out. But what you're doing is like painting a house with an artists' brush

Good luck,
Gary.

I will try a new gun. I was using the pencil type. I will try the 92126 2VGA.

Like Gary said, if all you have is an airbrush compressor that won't provide enough air for any of the guns that have been discussed.

Perhaps you can return that compressor for a refund and then look for a good deal on a larger compressor. They turn up used all the time by guys who find they need an even larger compressor. Just make sure it puts out enough CFM's (~ 5CFM's @ ~30 PSI) for the gun you want to use.

The gun you mention looks like a good choice, but whatever gun you buy make sure you clean it after each use.

And like Gary mentioned hang onto the airbrush, they can come in pretty handy.

Thanks for advice. So I need to cleanout the brush and tank before putting on second and third coats in say less than one hour each?

That airbrush is to small . Use regular spray cans from the store .

No, you can leave the spray in the cup and use as needed. Just shoot a couple of shots out before spraying the next coat.
I have left clear in the gun for a couple of days at a time.
When the job is done though clean the gun completely.

You may spray 3 coats, wait an hour, lightly sand or steel wool the finish, then spray on 3 more coats and call it a day. Set the spray gun aside. Resume then next day, maybe swirl around or mix the material in the cup before spraying. Give a couple of shots to clear the nozzle. Check the nozzle for any dried material on it, then start spraying again.

Now, if you ever use a paint that needs a hardner in it, then you do have a limited time to use the paint. If you wait too long, it will cure in the gun. Good luck getting it dissolved.

I don't think you will run into that problem though, unless you are applying automotive paints that may require the hardner. Adding hardner makes the material act like an epoxy, so you have a limited amount of "pot time" befire it cures fully.

You should be able to find a nice compressor at Sears. They are aways running sales, or you may find a scratched or cosmetically damaged one that will work just as good for a lot less money.
It's an investment really, so get something good with more air that you think you will ever use. It's best to have more air, then to have not enough. I probably use the air compressor more than any other power tool I have.

Let me say one disadvantage of the top mounted cup spray gun. When I use that silver one, I was able to take the cup off, add a little more clear and thinner to the mix, then put it back on the gun.

With the top mounted one, I can't add more stuff to the mix, and expect it to be fully stirred. Right at the bottom there is a place where material might not be mixed in. It's not that big of deal to mix the material in a small glass jar, then pour it into the cup.

Let us know when you get the gun and compressor setup. We can talk about filter/ seperator units, and water traps after you get the compressor.

Gary.

I took it all back to HF. The pencil style was to small. The compressor was to small. I went back to O'Reilly's and got a can of Universal Black and sprayed my case. It came out perfectly. It is cold up here now, 50 degrees. I will have to wait until next year to see if I want to use a larger unit. Thanks for advice.

i am an artist who worked for disney and universal as a scenic artist .
i have used almost every kind of air brush in production and some antiques,...the harbor frieght airbrushes are stunning for the price.
i just painted an '09 harley and did a reverse window painting in a store front,..they paid for themselves the first hour.
i used to be a pache die hard but the action and light wieght of the iawata styled chinese airbrush from harbor is equal,..having some trouble this week from abnormal temperatures in florida working on a 800 kawasaki trike now.
i have learned that no matter what gun you use there will be clogs occasionally.
get used to the action always mix your paint right and kick ass.

Hi,

Airbrush being used has to be a good supply of pressurized air. Almost all projects using the airbrush does not require large air compressors or any other accessory manufacturers, but the type of business you will be doing that determines the type and size of airbrush compressor that you need. For small projects, you need a smaller air compressor, but for manufacturing industries, it is certain to be the largest. Before buying a compressor, air brush, first determine the type of brush air compressor. If you are a beginner, it's good that you buy an airbrush kit first. Airbrush kit contains what you need for this kind of work to do. There are kits that are usually in the cake decorating, shirts, and makeup applications of automotive paint.

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I am back to use spray cans and the results are great. Thanks for ideas.

Even if you learn how to use airbrush and you decide to use stencils the art you create has no artistic value. If you are trying to paint real fire and follow all the recommendations, no matter how hard you try you can't get the desire result. Even after long time you can't get it to look right, it's probably because you don't have talent for this.

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Awwwwww! I'm sorry you didn't find success with using a compressor & sprayer...

I tell ya, what I think the whole problem was is that Harbor Freight crap, and I mean CRAP. I bought something from there once - ONCE. I knew the place was a dumper as soon as I saw all the garbage Buffalo tools.

Don't let this experience completely dismay you. I guarantee that you can do this (with better equipment), and you'll be doing it absolutely verifiably better than you'll ever be able to do with spray cans. I use a small Craftsman 2HP/12 gallon compressor capable of 3.0 SCFM at any pressure that a regular airgun needs. Along with a quality Paasche airbrush, and a quality Sears branded touch-up gun, I've never had any problems spraying anything. Just need to learn to set the product flow, pressure and fan size - a little practice goes a long way when learning, but when using inferior equipment, you'll do nothing but frustrate yourself until you finally give up.

Take that Buffalo Chip junk back and get your money back, and forget all about the experience, then start looking at individual components with quality brand names - you won't regret it.

Tom, I have to respectfully disagree with you on the Harbor Freight spray equipment. I have been using the Harbor Freight touch-up gun that Gary recommended and a 10 gallon 2HP Harbor Freight compressor for three years now. I am getting excellent results with these products and would recommend them to anyone. Now, I would agree that these tools may not be up to professional grade quality, but they are certainly more than adequate for those of us who are amateurs and have the need to spray a cabinet occasionally. And best of all, the price is right!

Here are the results I am getting with the fore-mentioned equipment.





Best regards,

Ed

Hi all, Airbrush can also immediately impact what method you want to apply through your airbrush. Let's say, you're airbrushing t tops, then you can small down the alternatives of method to airbrush shows. Airbrush colour is usually the most essential for create, fabric airbrushing, so it's better to buy a set of different colours of airbrush colour, independently from an airbrush kit. Most of the shows for fabric or create can be discovered in create shops, while the shows for cars should be ordered in vehicle shops. Thank you.

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Ed, those are some amazing results, no matter what gear! I'll go with you one this one, as there is no denying that you've got it down pat with the gear you've got there. I will say this though, a pro can take almost any piece of gear and make it shine to it's capability, whereas a rookie could benefit with more easy to use, more reliable and less problematic gear, like Paasche products for instance. I obviously formed some bad memories about Harbor Freight gear, but that's just me, and we should all be able to make our own choices. Just buyer beware, I guess...

Ed, can you touch a little on your methods of using your touch-up gun and airbrush? I assume you're spraying lacquer, and if so, what products are you using? Can you explain the level of product product you lay down on each pass, what you look for in your spray pattern, if and how you layer, etc.?

Beautiful work Ed, by all means tells us more about your methods and products. I have a couple of the gravity feed HF guns, small and large and I can say they are very good. I worked as a painter all my like so i have had many different guns in my hands.